NO. 3 GOPHERS REBOUND AGAINST STUBBORN IRISH WHO HIT FOUR PIPES IN 4-2 BIG TEN TOURNAMENT LOSS
By JOHN FINERAN
Notre Dame knows better than any team this hockey postseason that the puck can take some strange bounces.
After stunning No. 3 Minnesota in the opening game of their Big Ten Tournament best-of-three quarterfinal series Friday night, coach Jeff Jackson’s Fighting Irish gave it their all Saturday against the more talented Golden Gophers with 6,331 watching at the 3M Arena at Mariucci in Minneapolis.
Despite another outstanding effort in net from junior goaltender Owen Say, Notre Dame didn’t catch any breaks, hitting goal pipes behind Gopher goaltender Nathan Airey four times and allowing the Gophers to break a 1-1 tie with three goals in the final period Saturday night for a 4-2 victory to even the series at a victory apiece.
The winner of Sunday night’s game between the 25-9-4 Gophers and the 11-24-1 Irish will move into next Saturday’s single-elimination semifinal round. If it’s Notre Dame, that game will be played at No. 2 Michigan State, which tied Minnesota for the regular-season Big Ten championship but earned a first-round bye in the tournament because of a better head-to-head record. Minnesota drew the stubborn Irish, who then stunned the Gophers 3-2 Friday night to earn their retiring coach the 600th coaching victory of his career.
A victory by coach Bob Motzko’s Gophers would keep them home for a Saturday semifinal game against either Penn State or Ohio State. The Nittany Lions finished off a two-game sweep at Michigan with a 5-2 triumph Saturday. Ohio State, meanwhile, tied its series with Wisconsin with a 3-2 overtime triumph Saturday in Columbus.
“It’s do-or-die time,” Jackson said he told his team afterward. “But part of the reason we took Tuesday off this week was because we might have to play three (games) in three (days). So hopefully we’ll have a little more energy than them tomorrow which would certainly help. Any time you play three games in three days is a challenge.”
As they have done in the previous five games the teams have played this season, the Irish scored first when Hunter Strand cleaned up the second pipe clang of the night (off the stick of Jack Larrigan) and beat Airey at 2:40 of the second period. But Say, who followed up a 30-save performance on Friday with a 31-save effort on Saturday, surrendered a game-tying power-play goal by center Oliver Moore at 12:30 that sent the game into the third period tied at 1-1.
Connor Kurth scored his 17th goal of the season at 4:16 of the third period to break the tie and then assisted on Matthew Wood’s eventual game-winner just a little over three minutes later. After Notre Dame defenseman Henry Nelson cut the deficit to 3-2 at 9:42 with assists from Carter Slaggert and Strand, the Gophers finally got the clincher at 19:31 when Brodie Ziemer scored into the empty net vacated by Say at 18:39.
Kurth, Ziemer and junior All-American Jimmy Snuggerud each had two points for Minnesota, which outshot the Irish 15-7 in a scoreless first period and 35-23 for the game.
“We did some good things,” Jackson said, “but we also hit the post four times.”
Airey, who replaced Liam Souliere early in Friday’s second period after the Irish had taken a 3-1 lead, heard the first Irish clang at 1:02 into the game when Irish captain Justin Janicke beat him but not the crossbar. After Strand’s goal, Janicke hit another pipe at 6:59 of the second period. The fourth pipe clang came off the stick of center Danny Nelson at 18:59 while the Irish skated with a sixth attacker.
“We had our chances but we just didn’t take advantage of them,” Jackson said. “We didn’t give up much transitionally, which was one of our objectives. We just didn’t get enough offensive zone time. It’s hard to score when you don’t get into the offensive zone enough.”
Once again, Notre Dame gave itself a chance in its defensive zone with 17 blocked shots. Defenseman Paul Fischer and sophomore left wing Brennan Ali had four apiece, while graduate left wing Grant Silianoff and junior defenseman Michael Mastrodomenico had two each.
The Irish coach also liked what he saw in Say, who has played the Gophers tough four straight times in Minneapolis. On Jan. 17, he held the Gophers scoreless with 22 saves over the final two periods in a 5-2 loss. The following night, he made 30 saves in a 4-3 overtime victory. And now he’s had 61 saves in two nights against a Gophers squad that features 16 players who have been drafted by NHL teams.
“Owen has given us a chance to win these games,” Jackson said. “You have to have that kind of goaltending to win in the playoffs.”
MINNESOTA 4, NOTRE DAME 2
At 3M Arena at Mariucci, Minneapolis, Minn.
Notre Dame 0 1 1—2
Minnesota 0 1 3—4
First Period—Scoring: None. Penalties: Notre Dame 1-2, Minnesota 0-0.
Second Period—Scoring: 1. Notre Dame, Hunter Strand 7 (Jack Larrigan, Paul Fischer) EV 2:40; 2. Minnesota, Oliver Moore 12 (Brodie Ziemer, Jimmy Snuggerud) PP 12:30. Penalties: Notre Dame 1-2 (2-4), Minnesota 0-0 (0-0).
Third Period—Scoring: 3. Minnesota, Connor Kurth 17 (Jimmy Clark) EV 4:16; 4. Minnesota, Matthew Wood 16 (Connor Kurth, Ryan Chesley) EV 7:18; 5. Notre Dame, Henry Nelson 3 (Carter Slaggert, Hunter Strand) EV 9:42; 6. Minnesota, Brodie Ziemer 12 (Jimmy Snuggerud, Sam Rinzel) EN 19:31. Penalties: Notre Dame 0-0 (2-4), Minnesota 1-2 (1-2).
Shots on goal: Notre Dame 23 (7-9-7), Minnesota 35 (15-11-9).
Goalie saves: Notre Dame, Owen Say 31 (15-10-6); Minnesota, Nathan Airey 21 (7-8-6).
Power-play opportunities: Notre Dame 0 of 1, Minnesota 1 of 2.
Faceoffs won: Notre Dame 20 (8-7-5), Minnesota 27 (10-7-10).
Blocked shots: Notre Dame 17 (4-6-7), Minnesota 13 (3-4-6).
Referees: Colin Kronforst and David Marcotte. Linesmen: Sam Shikowsky and Justin Cornell. Attendance: 6,331 (10,257).
Records: Notre Dame 11-24-1, Minnesota 25-9-4.
BIG TEN TOURNAMENT
Best-of-three quarterfinals
Friday, March 7
No. 7 Notre Dame 3, No. 2 Minnesota 2
No. 6 Wisconsin 4, No. 3 Ohio State 1
No. 5 Penn State 6, No. 4 Michigan 5 (OT)
Saturday, March 8
No. 2 Minnesota 4, No. 7 Notre Dame 2 (Series tied 1-1)
No. 3 Ohio State 3, No. 6 Wisconsin 2 (OT) (Series tied 1-1)
No. 5 Penn State 5, No. 4 Michigan 2 (Penn State wins series 2-0)
Sunday, March 9
No. 7 Notre Dame (11-24-1) at No. 2 Minnesota (25-9-4), 7 p.m. (B1G+)
No. 6 Wisconsin (13-20-3) at No. 3 Ohio State (22-12-2), 7 p.m. (B1G+)
Single-elimination semifinals
Saturday, March 15
Lowest remaining seed at No. 1 Michigan State (24-6-4), TBD (Big Ten Network)
Second-lowest remaining seed at Highest remaining seed, TBD (Big Ten Network)
Single-elimination championship
Lowest remaining seed at Highest remaining seed, 7:30 p.m. (Big Ten Network)
STANDINGS
BIG TEN: (Numbers in parentheses before school are its standings in this week’s USCHO.com media poll, this week’s USA Hockey-The Rink Live coaches poll and its current PairWise rating)
1t. (2/2/2) Michigan State 15-5-4, 50 points (24-6-4 overall, 121 GF, 70 GA)
1t. (3/3/3) Minnesota 15-6-3, 50 points (25-9-4 overall, 149 GF, 92 GA)
3. (9/10/11) Ohio State 14-9-1, 42 points (22-12-2 overall, 114 GF, 89 GA)
4. (11/11/14) Michigan 12-10-2, 36 points (18-15-3 overall, 112 GF, 118 GA)
5. (15/15/12) Penn State 9-11-4, 33 points (20-12-4 overall, 127 GF, 110 GA)
6. (rv/nr/26) Wisconsin 7-16-1, 27 points (13-20-3 overall, 106 GF, 107 GA)
7. (nr/nr/43) Notre Dame 4-19-1, 14 points (11-24-1 overall, 98 GF, 125 GA)
TOURNAMENT
Best-of-three quarterfinals
Friday, March 7
Notre Dame 3, Minnesota 2
Wisconsin 4, Ohio State 1
Penn State 6, Michigan 5 (OT)
Saturday, March 8
Minnesota 4, Notre Dame 2 (series tied 1-1)
Ohio State 3, Penn State 2 (OT) (series tied 1-1)
Penn State 5, Michigan 2 (Penn State wins series 2-0)
Sunday, March 9
Notre Dame at Minnesota, 7 p.m.
Wisconsin at Ohio State, 7 p.m.
HOCKEY EAST: (Numbers in parentheses before school are its standings in this week’s USCHO.com media poll, this week’s USA Hockey-The Rink Live coaches poll and its current PairWise rating)
1. (1/1/1) Boston College 18-4-2, 55 points (26-6-2 overall, 120 GF, 58 GA)
2. (5/4/4) Maine 13-5-6, 50 points (21-7-6 overall, 107 GF, 64 GA)
3. (10/9/6) Boston University 14-8-2, 46 points (20-12-2 overall, 129 GF, 100 GA)
4. (8/8/7) Connecticut 12-8-4, 40 points (20-10-4 overall, 114 GF, 85 GA)
5. (6/6/8) Providence 11-8-5, 39 points (21-9-5 overall, 101 GF, 88 GA)
6. (16/14/10) Massachusetts 10-9-5, 37 points (19-12-5 overall, 123 GF, 87 GA)
7. (17/17/17) UMass Lowell 8-13-3, 30 points (15-15-4 overall, 89 GF, 92 GA)
8. (rv/nr/31) Merrimack 9-14-1, 28 points (13-20-1 overall, 79 GF, 109 GA)
9. (nr/nr/28) Northeastern 7-14-3, 26 points (12-19-3 overall, 79 GF, 105 GA)
10. (rv/rv/18) New Hampshire 5-14-5, 23 points (13-15-6 overall, 94 GF, 97 GA)
11. (nr/nr/34) Vermont 6-16-2, 22 points (11-20-3 overall, 99 GF, 114 GA)
REGULAR SEASON
Friday, March 7
New Hampshire 4, UMass Lowell 1
Massachusetts 5, Maine 1
Saturday, March 8
Boston College 6, Merrimack 0
New Hampshire 4, UMass Lowell 2
Boston University 6, Vermont 1
Providence 3, Northeastern 2
Maine 2, Massachusetts 2 (OT) (Maine won shootout 2-0)
NCHC: (Numbers in parentheses before school are its standings in this week’s USCHO.com media poll, this week’s USA Hockey-The Rink Live coaches poll and its current PairWise rating)
1. (4/5/5) Western Michigan 19-4-1, 57 points (26-7-1 overall, 134 GF, 71 GA)
2. (12/13/15) Arizona State 14-9-1, 47 points (19-13-2 overall, 124 GF, 91 GA)
3. (7/7/9) Denver 15-8-1, 45 points (26-9-1 overall, 141 GF, 75 GA)
4. (rv/rv/27) Omaha 14-9-1, 44 points (18-15-1 overall, 101 GF, 93 GA)
5. (18/18/19) North Dakota 14-9-1, 42 points (19-14-2 overall, 112 GF, 103 GA)
6. (20/rv/37) Colorado College 11-12-1, 32 points (17-16-1 overall, 98 GF, 97 GA)
7. (nr/nr/41) Minnesota Duluth 9-13-2, 30 points (13-18-3 overall, 91 GF, 107 GA)
8. (nr/nr/35) St. Cloud State 7-16-1, 23 points (14-19-1 overall, 75 GF, 98 GA)
9. (nr/nr/63) Miami 0-23-1, 4 points (3-28-3 overall, 63 GF, 143 GA)
REGULAR SEASON
Friday
Western Michigan 8, Miami 3
North Dakota 3, Omaha 1
St. Cloud State 3, Minnesota Duluth 2 (OT)
Denver 4, Colorado College 1
Saturday
Western Michigan 5, Miami 2
Denver 4, Colorado College 3
Omaha 7, North Dakota 3
Minnesota Duluth 3, St. Cloud State 2
ECAC: (Numbers in parentheses before school are its standings in this week’s USCHO.com media poll, this week’s USA Hockey-The Rink Live coaches poll and its current PairWise rating)
1. (13/12/13) Quinnipiac 16-5-1, 50 points (22-10-2 overall, 124 GF, 75 GA)
2. (19/19/20) Clarkson 15-6-1, 45 points (21-10-3 overall, 109 GF, 77 GA)
3. (rv/rv/24) Colgate 13-7-2, 42 points (18-13-3 overall, 113 GF, 109 GA)
4. (nr/nr/32) Union 12-8-2, 40 points (19-12-3 overall, 108 GF, 99 GA)
5. (rv/rv/22) Dartmouth 12-9-1, 39 points (16-12-2 overall, 99 GF, 76 GA)
6. (nr/rv/21) Cornell 10-8-4, 36 points (14-10-6 overall, 93 GF, 72 GA)
7. (nr/nr/38) Harvard 9-10-3, 31 points (12-15-3 overall, 79 GF, 90 GA)
8. (nr/nr/42) Brown 9-11-2, 28 points (14-13-3 overall, 78 GF, 77 GA)
9. (nr/nr/44) Princeton 7-12-3, 25 points (12-15-3 overall, 71 GF, 86 GA)
10. (nr/nr/52) Rensselaer 7-15-0, 23 points (12-21-2 overall, 101 GF, 131 GA)
11. (nr/nr/56) Yale 5-14-3, 19 points (6-21-3 overall, 67 GF, 121 GA)
12. (nr/nr/58) St. Lawrence 5-15-2, 18 points (9-24-2 overall, 71 GF, 121 GA)
TOURNAMENT
First round
Friday, March 7
Brown 3, Princeton 2
Harvard 5, Rensselaer 2
Saturday, March 8
Dartmouth 6, St. Lawrence 2
Cornell 5, Yale 1
CCHA: (Numbers in parentheses before school are its standings in this week’s USCHO.com media poll, this week’s USA Hockey-The Rink Live coaches poll and its current PairWise rating)
1. (14/16/16) Minnesota State 18-5-3, 0.718 (25-8-3 overall, 104 GF, 54 GA)
2. (nr/nr/33) Augustana 9-5-2, 0.625 (18-12-4 overall, 95 GF, 72 GA)
3. (nr/nr/36) St. Thomas 13-9-4, 0.564 (18-13-5 overall, 106 GF, 96 GA)
4. (nr/nr/39) Bowling Green 12-10-4, 0.551 (18-13-4 overall, 89 GA, 82 GA)
5. (nr/nr/45) Michigan Tech 12-11-3, 0.513 (16-17-3 overall, 95 GF, 96 GA)
6. (nr/nr/53) Ferris State 12-13-1, 0.462 (13-20-3 overall, 89 GF, 128 GA)
7. (nr/nr/46) Bemidji State 10-12-4, 0.462 (14-17-5 overall, 90 GF, 108 GA)
8. (nr/nr/51) Lake Superior State 10-15-1, 0.449 (12-22-2 overall, 93 GF, 115 GA)
9. (nr/nr/62) Northern Michigan 4-20-2, 0.205 (5-27-2 overall, 55 GF, 115 GA)
TOURNAMENT
Best-of-three quarterfinals
Friday, March 7
Bowling Green 2, Michigan Tech 1 (OT)
Minnesota State 4, Lake Superior State 1
St. Thomas 7, Ferris State 3
Augustana 3, Bemidji State 1
Saturday, March 8
Minnesota State 3, Lake Superior State 2 (Minnesota State wins series, 2-0)
St. Thomas 4, Ferris State 1 (St. Thomas wins series, 2-0)
Bemidji State 4, Augustana 3 (series tied 1-1)
Bowling Green 4, Michigan Tech 0 (Bowling Green wins series 2-0)
Sunday, March 9
Bemidji State at Augustana, 6:07 p.m.
ATLANTIC HOCKEY: (Numbers in parentheses before school are its standings in this week’s USCHO.com media poll, this week’s USA Hockey-The Rink Live coaches poll and its current PairWise rating)
1. (20/20/29) Holy Cross 19-5-2, 56 points (21-13-2 overall, 115 GF, 82 GA)
2. (rv/rv/23) Sacred Heart 16-7-3, 53 points (20-11-5 overall, 112 GF, 92 GA)
3. (nr/nr/30) Bentley 16-9-1, 51 points (20-14-2 overall, 100 GF, 75 GA)
4. (nr/nr/47) Niagara 15-9-2, 48 points (18-15-3 overall, 121 GF, 105 GA)
5. (nr/nr/48) Army 14-10-2, 44 points (15-18-2 overall, 98 GF, 106 GA)
6. (nr/nr/56) Canisius 11-13-2, 38 points (12-23-2 overall, 98 GF, 120 GA)
7. (nr/nr/49) Air Force 11-13-2, 37 points (16-20-3 overall, 85 GF, 108 GA)
8. (nr/nr/50) American International 9-16-1, 31 points (13-22-2 overall, 89 GF, 113 GA)
9. (nr/nr/60) RIT 9-15-2, 28 points (10-23-3 overall, 82 GF, 133 GA)
10. (nr/nr/57) Robert Morris 7-15-4, 27 points (10-20-5 overall, 95 GF, 114 GA)
11. (nr/nr/64) Mercyhurst 4-19-3, 16 points (4-27-4 overall, 77 GF, 150 GA)
TOURNAMENT
Best-of-three quarterfinals
Friday, March 7
American International 3, Holy Cross 2
Army 3, Niagara 2 (2OT)
Sacred Heart 4, Air Force 1
Bentley 4, Canisius 0
Saturday, March 8
Air Force 3, Sacred Heart 2 (2OT) (series tied 1-1)
Holy Cross 3, American International 2 (series tied 1-1)
Niagara 4, Army 3 (series tied 1-1)
Bentley 2, Canisius 0 (Bentley wins series 2-0)
Sunday, March 9
American International at Holy Cross, 5 p.m.
Air Force at Sacred Heart, 5 p.m.
Army at Niagara, 5 p.m.
INDEPENDENTS: (Numbers in parentheses before school are its standings in this week’s USCHO.com media poll, this week’s USA Hockey-The Rink Live coaches poll and its current PairWise rating)
(rv/nr/25) Long Island (20-12-2 overall, 111 GF, 77 GA)
(nr/nr/39) Alaska (12-14-6 overall, 73 GF, 89 GA)
(nr/nr/61) Stonehill (12-22-0 overall, 76 GF, 106 GA)
(nr/nr/54) Lindenwood (8-22-2 overall, 65 GF, 86 GA)
(nr/nr/59) Alaska Anchorage (6-23-5 overall, 75 GF, 117 GA)
SCHEDULES FOR USCHO.com MEDIA POLL TEAMS AND OTHERS
1. Boston College (Hockey East) (26-6-2) beat Merrimack 6-0 Saturday. Next: Saturday, March 15 vs. to be determined in Hockey East Tournament quarterfinals.
2. Michigan State (Big Ten) (24-6-4) was idle Saturday. Next: Saturday, March 15 vs. team to be determined in Big Ten Tournament semifinals.
3. Minnesota (Big Ten) (25-9-4) beat Notre Dame 4-2 Saturday in Big Ten quarterfinals. Next: Sunday vs. Notre Dame.
4. Western Michigan (NCHC) (26-7-1) won at Miami 5-2 Saturday. Next: Friday-Sunday vs. St. Cloud State in NCHC Tournament best-of-three quarterfinals.
5. Maine (Hockey East) (21-7-6) tied at No 16 Massachusetts 2-2 Saturday (Maine won shootout 2-0). Next: Saturday, March 15 vs. to be determined in Hockey East Tournament quarterfinals.
6. Providence (Hockey East) (21-9-5) won at Northeastern 3-2 Saturday. Next: Friday at No. 8 Connecticut in Hockey East Tournament quarterfinals.
7. Denver (NCHC) (26-9-1) won at No. 20 Colorado College 4-3 Saturday. Next: Friday-Sunday vs. Colorado College in NCHC Tournament best-of-three quarterfinals.
8. Connecticut (Hockey East) (20-10-4) was idle Saturday. Next: Friday vs. No. 6 Providence in Hockey East Tournament quarterfinals.
9. Ohio State (Big Ten) (22-12-2) beat Wisconsin 3-2 (OT) Saturday in Big Ten quarterfinals. Next: Sunday vs. Wisconsin.
10. Boston University (Hockey East) (20-12-2) won at Vermont 6-1 Saturday. Next: Saturday, March 15 vs. to be determined in Hockey East Tournament quarterfinals.
11. Michigan (Big Ten) (18-15-3) lost to No. 15 Penn State 5-2 Saturday in Big Ten quarterfinals. Next: NCAA Tournament announcement.
12. Arizona State (NCHC) (19-13-2) was idle Saturday. Next: Friday-Sunday vs. Minnesota Duluth in NCHC Tournament best-of-three quarterfinals.
13. Quinnipiac (ECAC) (22-10-2) was idle Saturday. Next: March 14-16 ECAC Tournament quarterfinals.
14. Minnesota State (CCHA) (25-8-3) beat Lake Superior State 3-2 Saturday in CCHA Tournament quarterfinals. Next: Saturday vs. to be determined in CCHA Tournament semifinal.
15. Penn State (Big Ten) (20-12-4) won at No. 11 Michigan 5-2 Saturday in Big Ten quarterfinals. Next: Saturday vs. to be determined in Big Ten Tournament semifinals.
16. Massachusetts (Hockey East) (19-12-5) tied No. 5 Maine 2-2 Saturday (Maine won shootout 2-0). Next: Wednesday vs. Vermont in Hockey East Tournament opening round.
17. UMass Lowell (Hockey East) (15-15-4) lost at New Hampshire 4-2 Saturday. Next: Wednesday vs. New Hampshire in Hockey East Tournament opening round.
18. North Dakota (NCHC) (19-14-2) lost to Omaha 7-3 Saturday. Next: Friday-Sunday at Omaha in NCHC Tournament best-of-three quarterfinals.
19. Clarkson (ECAC) (21-10-3) was idle Saturday. Next: March 14-16 ECAC Tournament quarterfinals.
20T. Colorado College (NCHC) (17-16-1) lost to No. 7 Denver 4-3 Saturday. Next: Friday-Sunday at Denver in NCHC Tournament best-of-three quarterfinals.
20T. Holy Cross (Atlantic Hockey) (21-13-2) beat American International 3-2 Saturday in Atlantic Hockey quarterfinals. Next: Sunday vs. American International.
Also receiving votes
Omaha (NCHC) (18-15-1) won at No. 18 North Dakota 7-3 Saturday. Next: Friday-Sunday vs. North Dakota in NCHC Tournament best-of-three quarterfinals.
Sacred Heart (Atlantic Hockey) (20-11-5) lost to Air Force 3-2 (2OT) Saturday in Atlantic Hockey quarterfinals. Next: Sunday vs. Air Force.
New Hampshire (Hockey East) (13-15-6) beat No. 17 UMass Lowell 4-2 Saturday. Next: Wednesday at No. 17 UMass Lowell in Hockey East Tournament opening round.
Colgate (ECAC) (18-13-3) was idle Saturday. Next: March 14-16 ECAC Tournament quarterfinals.
Merrimack (Hockey East) (13-20-1) lost at No. 1 Boston College 6-0 Saturday. Next: Wednesday vs. Northeastern in Hockey East Tournament opening round.
Dartmouth (ECAC) (16-12-2) beat St. Lawrence 6-2 Saturday in ECAC Tournament.
Long Island (Independent) (20-12-2) was idle Saturday. Next: NCAA tournament announcement.
Wisconsin (Big Ten) (13-20-3) lost at No. 9 Ohio State 3-2 (OT) Saturday in Big Ten quarterfinals. Next: Sunday at No. 9 Ohio State.
Others
Notre Dame (Big Ten) (11-24-1) lost at No. 3 Minnesota 4-2 Saturday in Big Ten quarterfinals. Next: Sunday at No. 3 Minnesota.
Northeastern (Hockey East) (12-19-3) lost to No. 6 Providence 3-2 Saturday. Next: Wednesday at Merrimack in Hockey East Tournament opening round.
Vermont (Hockey East) (11-20-3) lost to No. 10 Boston University 6-1 Saturday. Next: Wednesday at No. 16 Massachusetts in Hockey East Tournament opening round.
Miami (NCHC) (3-28-3) lost to No. 4 Western Michigan 5-2 Saturday. Next: Season completed.
St. Cloud State (NCHC) (14-19-1) lost to Minnesota Duluth 3-2 Saturday. Next: Friday-Sunday at No. 4 Western Michigan in NCHC Tournament best-of-three quarterfinals.
Minnesota Duluth (NCHC) (13-18-3) won at St. Cloud State 3-2 Saturday. Next: Friday-Sunday at No. 12 Arizona State in NCHC Tournament best-of-three quarterfinals.
Lake Superior State (CCHA) (12-21-2) lost at No. 14 Minnesota State 3-2 Saturday in CCHA quarterfinals. Next: Season completed.
Augustana (CCHA) (18-12-4) lost to Bemidji State 4-3 Saturday in CCHA quarterfinals. Next: Sunday vs. Bemidji State.
Bemidji State (CCHA) (14-17-5) won at Augustine 4-3 Saturday in CCHA quarterfinals. Next: Sunday at Augustana.
Michigan Tech (CCHA) (16-17-3) lost at Bowling Green 4-0 Saturday in CCHA quarterfinals. Next: Season completed.
Bowling Green (CCHA) (18-13-4) beat Michigan Tech 4-0 Saturday in CCHA quarterfinals. Next: Saturday, March 15 vs. team to be determined in CCHA Tournament semifinal.
St. Thomas (CCHA) (18-13-5) beat Ferris State 4-1 Saturday in CCHA quarterfinals. Next: Saturday, March 15 vs. team to be determined in CCHA Tournament semifinal.
Ferris State (CCHA) (13-20-3) lost at St. Thomas 4-1 Saturday in CCHA quarterfinals. Next: Season completed.
Union (ECAC) (19-12-3) was idle Saturday. Next: March 14-16 ECAC Tournament quarterfinals.
St. Lawrence (ECAC) (9-24-2) lost at Dartmouth 6-2 Saturday in ECAC Tournament. Next: Season completed.
Cornell (ECAC) (13-10-6) beat Yale 5-1 Saturday in ECAC Tournament. Next: ECAC Tournament quarterfinals.
Yale (ECAC) (6-20-3) lost at Cornell 5-1 Saturday in ECAC Tournament. Next: Season completed.
Brown (ECAC) (14-13-3) was idle Saturday. Next: ECAC Tournament quarterfinals.
Harvard (ECAC) (12-15-3) was idle Saturday. Next: ECAC Tournament quarterfinals.
American International (Atlantic Hockey) (13-22-2) lost at No. 20 Holy Cross 3-2 Saturday in Atlantic Hockey quarterfinals. Next: Sunday at No. 20 Holy Cross.
Air Force (Atlantic Hockey) (16-20-3) won at Sacred Heart 3-2 (2OT) Saturday in Atlantic Hockey quarterfinals. Next: Sunday at Sacred Heart.
Bentley (Atlantic Hockey) (20-14-2) beat Canisius 2-0 Saturday in Atlantic Hockey quarterfinals. Next: Atlantic Hockey semifinal.
Canisius (Atlantic Hockey) (12-23-2) lost at Bentley 2-0 Saturday in Atlantic Hockey quarterfinals. Next: Season completed.
Niagara (Atlantic Hockey) (18-15-3) beat Army 4-3 Saturday in Atlantic Hockey quarterfinals. Next: Sunday vs. Army.
Army (Atlantic Hockey) (15-18-2) lost at Niagara 4-3 Saturday in Atlantic Hockey quarterfinals. Next: Sunday at Niagara.
PHOTO COURTESY OF MINNESOTA SPORTS INFORMATION
Notre Dame defenseman Michael Mastrodomenico battles with Minnesota’s Connor Kurth for the puck during Saturday’s Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal game at the 3M Arena at Mariucci in Minneapolis. Kurth broke a 1-1 tie with his third-period goal and then assisted on Matthew Wood’s game-winner as the Golden Gophers scored a 4-2 victory over the Fighting Irish to even the best-of-three series at 1-1.